First Study on the Detection of Microsporidian Nosema spp. in Honeybee (Apismellifera) Apiaries in Central Java Island, Indonesia

This study presents the first report on the detection of microsporidian Nosema spp.infections in honeybee (Apis mellifera) apiaries in Batang, Central Java, Indonesia.Nosema spp., particularly Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, are obligate intracellular parasites that infect the midgut epithelial cells of adult honeybees, leading to a disease known as nosemosis.The infection can cause significant negative impacts on bee health, including reduced lifespan, impaired foraging ability, and colony depopulation.To investigate the presence and prevalence of Nosema spp., a total of 200 adult worker bees were collected from six different apiaries located in Batang Regency.Each sample was examined microscopically to detect and quantify Nosema spores following standard spore isolation techniques.The results revealed that Nosema spp.were present in all six apiaries, with an overall infection prevalence of 81%.The average spore load was found to be 1.2 10 spores per bee, indicating a relatively high level of infe ction in the region.While species-level identification was not performed, the widespread presence of Nosema spp.detected in this study raises concerns about the potential impact on colony productivity and long -term beekeeping sustainability in Central Java.These findings underscore the importance of further research, including molecular identification of Nosema species and continuous monitoring, to support early detection and effective disease management strategies in Indonesian apiculture.